Some S.A. teachers working around the clock for students

A nice article about KIPP Aspire in San Antonio -- and about one of many aspects of KIPP that EVERY school in America should be doing. THIS is the kind of thing I (and, I think, virtually all Americans) would enthusiastically pay teachers more for:

To recognize the long hours and hard work that the teachers at KIPP put in, they're getting paid more than most teachers in Texas. The average salary for teachers in Bexar County is $44,000. However, the average salary for a teacher here is $52,000.

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Some S.A. teachers working around the clock for students

Web Posted: 07/15/2006 12:46 AM CDT

Ainsley Earhardt

KENS 5 Eyewitness News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA071406.KIPPaspire.KENS.135224f0.html

It's not uncommon for a doctor or a locksmith to be on call — but what about a teacher? The staff at a San Antonio middle school is going above and beyond the call of duty to keep their students at the head of the class.

"You have to love teaching and be willing to live, eat and breathe it — all the time," teacher Amanda Delabar said.

The hope is seeing all of the students go to college, and for the teachers that dream is worth the sacrifices. KIPP, the Knowledge is Power Program, is nationwide. It's free public education that targets what they refer to as "underserved 5th through 8th graders."

The workload is heavy at KIPP Aspire Academy. Students are in school until 5 p.m., and teachers are required to be on-call.

"We provide the teachers a cell phone so they're on-call for homework help for the students in evenings or weekends," school director Mark Larson said.

All the teachers get cell phones, and all the students get a list of their phone numbers.